Best-Selling Author and Former Baseball Umpire to Speak at MCLA

2011-09-12

NORTH ADAMS, MA - Dave Pallone, a professional umpire for 18 years and the author of the New York Time's bestselling autobiography, "Behind the Mask: My Double Life in Baseball," will speak at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) on Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m. in the MCLA Church Street Center.

The event is free and open to the public.

Pallone's presentation will focus on issues such as how sexual orientation can affect one's college and personal life. He will describe how he lived in constant fear that his sexual orientation would be discovered and how it affected his performance as a major league baseball umpire.

According to Scott Nichols, MCLA athletics director, Pallone's presentation will focus on being true to oneself and respecting others for who they are, and how that mindset creates a positive environment - whether it is on a college campus or in the athletic arena.

Pallone worked for 18 years as a professional umpire, 10 of which were with the National Baseball League, and was the third youngest umpire in baseball history. His bestselling 1990 New York Times autobiography was re-released last year in recognition of its 20th anniversary.